AB372 JANDAMARRA: Literature Search The story of Jandamarra is something that we, as Aboriginal Studies students, now know about. We have listened to lectures that reveal his story, and have met with author Howard Pederson who provided us with a personal recreation of the Jandamarra story. I have found six sources, three by Indigenous authors and organisations, and three by non-Indigenous, who aim to provide an alternative retelling of Jandamarra: the person and the story.
Indigenous Perspective
Awaye! Frontier Stories: Interview with Ningali Lawford Wolf * (Audio) http://www.abc.net.au/rn/awaye/stories/2008/2163841.htm Awaye is an Indigenous radio station that is connected to the ABC Radio Network. On 16/02/2008, 30 minutes into the segment, Indigenous presenter Daniel Browning interviews Ningali Lawford Wolf about her contribution to the Jandamarra play, which was being shown in Perth at the time. Lawford Wolf, who plays Jandamarra’s mother and is also the narrator of the play, discusses the story of Jandamarra and the impacts that it had on her upbringing as a Fitzroy Valley woman. Also discussed in the interview are Jandamarra’s upbringing, his influences, and how they contributed to his final result. The interview is conducted in a casual manner, and as a result of both members of the interview being Indigenous, and knowing the Jandamarra story since infancy, the language and information that is shared is different to most formal radio interviews.
Nyikina Stories: Woonyoomboo & Jandamarra (Book) This book was created in 2009 as an educational story for young children. It tells two traditional stories of the Nyikina people, who are located around the Fitzroy River area. The information provided on Jandamarra is only a brief extract compared to the traditional story we know about, and a different story about Jandamarra is told: how he became a rock, and why a tree found around the Fitzroy River is shaped a particular way. The book is written in Nyikina and English, and is written in very clear language which easily communicates to young children. Included in the book are activities for children to complete, as well as an interactive CD which tells Jandamarra’s story and provides further activities. This book is useful in providing an introduction to Jandamarra, and as it is aimed at children it helps to educate them of traditional Indigenous stories from an early age.
Keepers of the Story (DVD) http://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/4590.html Ronin Films, which is part of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, tells Indigenous stories on Indigenous television networks, such as Imparja and National Indigenous Television. The documentary, Keepers of the Story: Jandamarra, was written, directed and produced by Indigenous siblings Mitch and Eileen Torres, who come from the Fitzroy Valley area. Created in 2010, the documentary tells the story of the Bunuba peoples’ efforts to keep alive the story of Jandamarra, and records interviews with senior Bunuba people who are preserving the story of Jandamarra. As this documentary was only created in 2010, I was unable to obtain a copy of it to review. However I decided to reference the Ronin Films website, as detailed information about the DVD is included, and I feel it is an important source to be considered when referring to the Jandamarra story.
Non-Indigenous Perspective:
Rewind: Jandamarra (Cassette Recording) The video of Rewind: Jandamarra was filmed in approximately 2004 by the ABC Network. In the episode, a non-Indigenous interviewer travels to the Kimberley to take part in a recreation, by the Bunuba people, of the Jandamarra story. The footages goes for approximately 12 minutes, and includes a retelling of the Jandamarra story, photos and recordings of station life and the treatment of Indigenous people, and an interview with senior Bunuba woman June Oscar, who later goes on to play a major part in the Jandamarra play. The colonial images are merged with the recreated footage of the Jandamarra story, which results in a creating a “real” retelling of Jandamarra’s story. Compared to the audio interview with Lawford Wolf in the Awaye radio program, this source is useful in providing a visual association to Jandamarra’s story.
Kimberley Warrior: the story of Jandamarra (Book) Kimberley Warrior: the story of Jandamarra was written by John Nicholson, a former architect and now author, in 1997. The story is aimed at young adults, however is useful in providing another version of Jandamarra’s story. The book follows Jandamarra from when he was 13 years old, to his death at Windjana Gorge, and includes drawings of scenes (such as the gorges and caves that Jandamarra hid in), maps, and old photographs of Bunuba people. Of all the sources found, this book provides the most detail on Jandamarra, and although now 14 years old, still has a lot of relevant information within it.
Paul Kelly: Jandamarra/Pigeon * (Audio) http://www.myspace.com/paulkellymusic/music/songs/jandamarra-pigeon-76309515 In 1989, Paul Kelly, following a visit to the Kimberley, wrote a song about Jandamarra. The song focuses on the struggle between Indigenous people and the white settlers, and is told from the view of Officer O’Malley, one of the police officers who looked for Jandamarra. The song is beautifully written, mainly in rhyme, and uses lyrics such as, “Pigeon - that's the name we gave him, Pigeon - putting me to shame. I do this job because I have to... Jandamarra - how I hate that name”. The lyrics indicate a feeling of resentment towards Jandamarra, and provide a different portrayal of Jandamarra, and may contribute as to why some people view him as an outlaw.
* I was unable to directly upload audio files to the Wiki, links have been provided where the sources will need to be downloaded.
References: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (Producer). (n.d.). Rewind: Jandamarra [Cassette recording].
AB372 JANDAMARRA: Literature Search
The story of Jandamarra is something that we, as Aboriginal Studies students, now know about. We have listened to lectures that reveal his story, and have met with author Howard Pederson who provided us with a personal recreation of the Jandamarra story. I have found six sources, three by Indigenous authors and organisations, and three by non-Indigenous, who aim to provide an alternative retelling of Jandamarra: the person and the story.
Indigenous Perspective
Awaye! Frontier Stories: Interview with Ningali Lawford Wolf * (Audio)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/awaye/stories/2008/2163841.htm
Awaye is an Indigenous radio station that is connected to the ABC Radio Network. On 16/02/2008, 30 minutes into the segment, Indigenous presenter Daniel Browning interviews Ningali Lawford Wolf about her contribution to the Jandamarra play, which was being shown in Perth at the time. Lawford Wolf, who plays Jandamarra’s mother and is also the narrator of the play, discusses the story of Jandamarra and the impacts that it had on her upbringing as a Fitzroy Valley woman. Also discussed in the interview are Jandamarra’s upbringing, his influences, and how they contributed to his final result. The interview is conducted in a casual manner, and as a result of both members of the interview being Indigenous, and knowing the Jandamarra story since infancy, the language and information that is shared is different to most formal radio interviews.
Nyikina Stories: Woonyoomboo & Jandamarra (Book)
This book was created in 2009 as an educational story for young children. It tells two traditional stories of the Nyikina people, who are located around the Fitzroy River area. The information provided on Jandamarra is only a brief extract compared to the traditional story we know about, and a different story about Jandamarra is told: how he became a rock, and why a tree found around the Fitzroy River is shaped a particular way. The book is written in Nyikina and English, and is written in very clear language which easily communicates to young children. Included in the book are activities for children to complete, as well as an interactive CD which tells Jandamarra’s story and provides further activities. This book is useful in providing an introduction to Jandamarra, and as it is aimed at children it helps to educate them of traditional Indigenous stories from an early age.
Keepers of the Story (DVD)
http://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/4590.html
Ronin Films, which is part of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, tells Indigenous stories on Indigenous television networks, such as Imparja and National Indigenous Television. The documentary, Keepers of the Story: Jandamarra, was written, directed and produced by Indigenous siblings Mitch and Eileen Torres, who come from the Fitzroy Valley area. Created in 2010, the documentary tells the story of the Bunuba peoples’ efforts to keep alive the story of Jandamarra, and records interviews with senior Bunuba people who are preserving the story of Jandamarra. As this documentary was only created in 2010, I was unable to obtain a copy of it to review. However I decided to reference the Ronin Films website, as detailed information about the DVD is included, and I feel it is an important source to be considered when referring to the Jandamarra story.
Non-Indigenous Perspective:
Rewind: Jandamarra (Cassette Recording)
The video of Rewind: Jandamarra was filmed in approximately 2004 by the ABC Network. In the episode, a non-Indigenous interviewer travels to the Kimberley to take part in a recreation, by the Bunuba people, of the Jandamarra story. The footages goes for approximately 12 minutes, and includes a retelling of the Jandamarra story, photos and recordings of station life and the treatment of Indigenous people, and an interview with senior Bunuba woman June Oscar, who later goes on to play a major part in the Jandamarra play. The colonial images are merged with the recreated footage of the Jandamarra story, which results in a creating a “real” retelling of Jandamarra’s story. Compared to the audio interview with Lawford Wolf in the Awaye radio program, this source is useful in providing a visual association to Jandamarra’s story.
Kimberley Warrior: the story of Jandamarra (Book)
Kimberley Warrior: the story of Jandamarra was written by John Nicholson, a former architect and now author, in 1997. The story is aimed at young adults, however is useful in providing another version of Jandamarra’s story. The book follows Jandamarra from when he was 13 years old, to his death at Windjana Gorge, and includes drawings of scenes (such as the gorges and caves that Jandamarra hid in), maps, and old photographs of Bunuba people. Of all the sources found, this book provides the most detail on Jandamarra, and although now 14 years old, still has a lot of relevant information within it.
Paul Kelly: Jandamarra/Pigeon * (Audio)
http://www.myspace.com/paulkellymusic/music/songs/jandamarra-pigeon-76309515
In 1989, Paul Kelly, following a visit to the Kimberley, wrote a song about Jandamarra. The song focuses on the struggle between Indigenous people and the white settlers, and is told from the view of Officer O’Malley, one of the police officers who looked for Jandamarra. The song is beautifully written, mainly in rhyme, and uses lyrics such as, “Pigeon - that's the name we gave him, Pigeon - putting me to shame. I do this job because I have to... Jandamarra - how I hate that name”. The lyrics indicate a feeling of resentment towards Jandamarra, and provide a different portrayal of Jandamarra, and may contribute as to why some people view him as an outlaw.
* I was unable to directly upload audio files to the Wiki, links have been provided where the sources will need to be downloaded.
References:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (Producer). (n.d.). Rewind: Jandamarra [Cassette recording].
Awaye! (2008). Frontier stories. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/rn/awaye/stories/2008/2163841.htm
Madjulla Inc. (2009). Nyikina Stories: Woonyoomboo & Jandamarra. Broome, WA:Madjulla Inc.
Myspace. (n.d.). Jandamarra/Pigeon. Retrieved from http://www.myspace.com/paulkellymusic/music/songs/jandamarra-pigeon-76309515
Nicholson, J. (1997). Kimberley Warrior: the story of Jandamarra. St Leonards, NSW: A Little Ark Book.
Ronin Films. (2011). Keepers of the story: Jandamarra (from the CAAMA Collection).Retrieved from http://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/4590.html